Fastening connecter for strings of musical instruments



' 1,619,563 March 1 1927' A. BURDWISE mswmrme CONNECTER FOR STRINGS OF" MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS Filed Jan. 18, 1926 ]/V V [W 7 0R, Aaron .Burdwz'se ATTORNEY.

Patented Mar. 1, 1927.

UNITED STATES AARON RURnwIs-n, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, AssieNOR To MUSiCAL i-aAn'u'i Ac- TURERS CORPORATION, OF BALTIMORE,

LAND.

MARYLAND, A CORPORATION OF MARY- FASTENING CONNECTER FOR STRINGS or- MUSIQAL nvstrRniann'rs.

Application filed January 18, 1926. Serial No. 82,150.

This invention relates to musical instruments, and especiallyto an improved fastening connecter for strings of musical instruments.

Although the invention is applicable to different kinds of string-instruments, it is especially useful and desirable in connec tion with violins; so the description of its application, use and operation will be directed exclusively to violins and to that class of violin strings that are relatively or comparatively pliable and elastic, viz, gut strings or the like.

lVhen a gut string breaks on a violin while a violinist is playing or preparing to play therewith before an audience, it is very desirable and important to replace the string very quickly, lest the audience becomes impatient and displeased. Every one who has experienced the difficulties in fastening a pliable and elastic string to a violin-key knows that such diilicultiesresnlt mainly from the fact that the ordinary hole through the violin-key is very difficult of access because it is located in the relatively small cavity of the violin-head; and another difliculty resides in the fact that new violin-strings are considerably curved in consequence of being sold and stored or kept in coils of relatively small diameter; and a third difficulty resides in the fact of the string being relatively springy or elastic so it will not retain a permanent set after being bent, so it is incapable of being formed into a locking bend such as is formed in the wire connector which is relatively nonelastic and is capable of retaining such permanent set.

Therefore, one object of this invention is to provide an improved and exceedingly simple connector secured on the front end of a violin string, or comprising means to secure to the string, and being of comparatively stiff but non-elastic or slightly elastic wire capable of retaining a permanent set and thereby automatically anchoring the string to the violin-key in consequence of the ordinary turning of the key for tensioning the string.

Another object is to provide an improved connecter of the character described but having the addition of lateral protrusions which may be in the form of convolutions of the wire, or may be of any appropriate form,

for indenting the violin-keys surface and providing additional anchorages or anti-slipping elements.

Other objects and important features are pointed out or implied in the following details of description, in connection with the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. l is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through the front part of a violin-head and through a string-receiving hole of a violin-key, and a side view of a fastening connecter attached to a *iolinstring and inserted through the said hole and slightly bent by rotation of the key.

Fig. 2 is a view of a part of the construction and combination shown in Fig. 1, but the key being in a turned position to show how the fastening connecter is formed with locking bends, by rotation of the key, to prevent slipping of the wire or string when wound on the periphery of the key.

Figs. 3 and 4- are side views showing modified forms of the connecter and their respective means for securing the violinstring thereto.

Referring to these drawings in detail, in which similar reference characters corre spond to similar parts throughout the several views, and in which the violin-head H and violin-key K are of ordinary construction: The string S is of the relatively pliable and springy or elastic kind such as gut or the like, and the fastening connector C, C and C (according to form of invention) is of comparatively stiff and bendable and nonelastic or slightly elastic wire of a diameter approximately half that of the A violinstring, or smaller, according to the degree of malleability or flexibility.

lVhile it is contemplated to secure the connecter to the violin-string by any appropriate means, I show several ways or means of fastening these parts, for instance. in Fig. 1, I show a loop Z79 in the wire, and a knot hot in the string S; in Fig. 3 the wire is formed with a loop Z72 and the string is formed with a U-bend ub which may be retained in its shape after engagement with the loop Z29 by a simpletie or band therearound or by a grasp of the thumb and finger of the user; and in Fig. 4 wire is inserted tlnough a hole or slot 72, in the string S, and one part of the wire extends parallel with the string and beyond the front end ate and -the hole of the violin-key and held againstdad] thereof at 0 while the other part of the wire is formed into helical convolutions 00 which hold the straight and parallel part of the.

wire in position onthe strin These helical convolutionsconstitute lateral protrusions that slightly but effectively depress or indent the surface of the key for assisting the bends b and b in preventing the string from slipping on the key. The straight and helical parts 111 Flg. 3 are shown respectively In applying the invention, the wire connecte-r is first attached to the violin-string by any approprlate means (including the means herein described), and the substantially straight connecter is then inserted 1n the front wall of the cavity of the'violinhead while the key K is turned in the ordinary way for tensioning the string, thereby pressing the free end oi"- the connecter against the relatively close'bottom of said cavity, thus making a sharp bend b 1n the wlre at the lower end of the hole through which it extends. The operator begins to pull back against the string as the winding proceeds,

so a second sharp bend is made at 79 These bends form secure anchorages to increase the frictional and indented engagement with the surface of the violin-key. In fact they are snliicient without the indented engagement" connector is not for the purpose of leading the string into the hole of the violin-key, but for avoiding the necessity of losing time and patience by attempting to insert the string in said hole. The wire, being relatively stiff and straight, is easily and quickly insertable in the hole, and being bendable and comparatively non-elastic, it is quickly and automatically converted into an anchor which secures the string to the violin-key so the latter can draw thestring onto and around its periphery.

"Although I have shown several forms 01"- the invention, 1 have no intention to limit my patent protection to these forms, but the inventive idea embraces numerous other forms whichlie within the scope or" the combination claimed, as follows: a

A musical instrument string comprising a main portion of gut or the like,'and' a keyconnecting portion of comparatively stifi but bendable and comparatively non-elastic metal wire wound around and tightly embracing the front end of said main portion and extending forward beyond said' front end and being ot a size andshape which enables it to be inserted through the usual hole that extends laterally through a violin-key or the like. said wire thus being bendable by rota-.

.tion of a violin-key or the like and thereby lockable to the latter for drawing the front .end otsaid main portion onto and around the-violin-key or the like.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature.

7 AARON BURDWISE. 

